U.S. patent application number 10/628466 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-22 for signal input device.
Invention is credited to Yen, Chi-Yu.
Application Number | 20040140183 10/628466 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32716522 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040140183 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yen, Chi-Yu |
July 22, 2004 |
Signal input device
Abstract
A signal input device includes a bottom shell, a printed
conducting track unit arranged on a top surface of the bottom
shell, the printed conducting track unit having a plurality of
contact portions, and a top cover covering the bottom shell and
carrying a press unit. The press unit is aimed at and spaced above
the contact portions of the printed conducting track unit for
pressing by the user to connect selectively the contact portions of
the printed conducting track unit.
Inventors: |
Yen, Chi-Yu; (Taipei City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
32716522 |
Appl. No.: |
10/628466 |
Filed: |
July 29, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
200/5A |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01H 2239/01 20130101;
H01H 2207/024 20130101; H01H 2215/004 20130101; H01H 2221/002
20130101; H01H 13/702 20130101; H01H 2203/03 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
200/005.00A |
International
Class: |
H01H 009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 17, 2003 |
TW |
92200912 |
Jan 17, 2003 |
TW |
92200911 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A signal input device comprising: a bottom shell, said bottom
shell having a top surface; a printed conducting track unit
arranged on the top surface of said bottom shell, said printed
conducting track unit comprising a plurality of contact portions;
and a top cover covering said bottom shell, said top cover having a
press unit carried in a top surface thereof, said press unit being
aimed at and spaced above said contact portions of said printed
conducting track unit for pressing by a user to selectively connect
said contact portions of said printed conducting track unit.
2. The signal input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
press unit is formed on the top surface of said top cover and
having a recessed portion in a bottom side thereof.
3. The signal input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top
surface of said bottom shell is electrically insulating.
4. The signal input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
press unit protrudes over the top surface of said top cover.
5. The signal input device as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a plurality of conductive contacts respectively provided
on a bottom side of said press unit corresponding to and spaced
above said contact portions of said printed conducting track
unit.
6. The signal input device as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a plurality of through holes formed in said top cover
and adapted to accommodate said press unit, a plurality of rubber
domes supported on the top surface of said bottom shell, and a
plurality of conductive contacts respectively mounted in said
rubber domes on a bottom side and spaced above said contact
portions of said printed conducting track unit for connecting said
contact portions of said printed conducting track unit selectively
upon pressing of said press unit by the user.
7. The signal input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
bottom shell comprises an IC chip, said IC chip having contact pins
electrically connected to said printed conducting track unit.
8. The signal input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
bottom shell has a light emitting device mounted therein and
electrically connected to said printed conducting track unit.
9. The signal input device as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a light guide mounted in said top cover and extending in
one through hole.
10. The signal input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top
cover comprises two bottom engagement portions disposed at two
sides and said bottom shell comprises two top engagement portions
disposed at two sides and respectively forced into engagement with
the bottom engagement portions of said top cover.
11. The signal input device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said
bottom engagement portions of said top cover are retaining
grooves.
12. The signal input device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said
top engagement portions of said bottom shell are retaining
ribs.
13. The signal input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
bottom shell comprises a plurality of upright bonding portions
respectively bonded to said top cover.
14. The signal input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
printed conducting track unit comprises a layer of conducting glue,
said layer of conducting glue comprising conducting portions, said
contact portions and a plurality of lead wires, an insulating
layer, and a layer of conducting film, said layer of conducting
glue being printed on the top surface of said bottom shell, said
insulating layer being printed on the top surface of said bottom
shell over said lead wires beyond said conducting portions and said
contact portions, and said layer of conducting film being printed
on said insulating layer over said contact portions to electrically
connect said contact portions.
15. The signal input device as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising support means provided between said top cover and said
bottom shell to keep said conductive contacts separated from said
contact portions of said printed conducting track unit by a
distance.
16. A signal input device comprising: a bottom shell, said bottom
shell having a top surface; a plurality of conductive contacts
mounted on the top surface of said bottom shell; a top cover
covering said bottom shell, said top cover having a bottom surface
and carrying a press unit; and a printed conducting track unit
located on the bottom surface of said top cover, said printed
conducting track unit comprising a plurality of contact portions
respectively aimed at said press unit and separated from said press
unit by a distance.
17. The signal input device as claimed in claim 16, further
comprising a support means provided between said top cover and said
bottom shell to keep said conductive contacts separated from the
contact portions of said printed conducting track unit by a
distance.
18. The signal input device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said
top cover has an IC chip mounted on the bottom surface thereof and
electrically connected to said printed conducting track unit.
19. The signal input device as claimed in claim 16, further
comprising a light emitting device electrically connected to said
printed conducting track unit and aimed at one through hole of said
top cover.
20. The signal input device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said
top cover comprises two bottom engagement portions disposed at two
sides and said bottom shell comprises two top engagement portions
disposed at two sides and respectively forced into engagement with
the bottom engagement portions of said top cover.
21. The signal input device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said
bottom engagement portions of said top cover are retaining
grooves.
22. The signal input device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said
top engagement portions of said bottom shell are retaining
ribs.
23. The signal input device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said
bottom shell comprises a plurality of upright bonding portions
respectively bonded to said top cover.
24. The signal input device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said
printed conducting track unit comprises a layer of conducting glue,
said layer of conducting glue comprising conducting portions, said
contact portions and a plurality of lead wires, an insulating
layer, and a layer of conducting film, said layer of conducting
glue being printed on the top surface of said bottom shell, said
insulating layer being printed on the top surface of said bottom
shell over said lead wires beyond said conducting portions and said
contact portions, and said layer of conducting film being printed
on said insulating layer over said contact portions to electrically
connect said contact portions.
25. The signal input device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the
bottom surface of said top cover is electrically insulating.
26. A signal input device comprising: a bottom shell, said bottom
shell having a top surface; a printed conducting track unit located
on the top surface of said bottom shell, said printed conducting
track unit comprising a plurality of contact portions; a top cover
covering said bottom shell, said top cover carrying a press unit; a
plurality of rubber domes provided between said top cover and said
bottom shell corresponding to the contact portions of said printed
conducting track unit; and a plurality of conductive contacts
respectively mounted in said rubber domes on a bottom side and
facing the contact portions of said printed conducting track
unit.
27. The signal input device as claimed in claim 26, wherein said
printed conducting track unit comprises a layer of conducting glue,
said layer of conducting glue comprising conducting portions, said
contact portions and a plurality of lead wires, an insulating
layer, and a layer of conducting film, said layer of conducting
glue being printed on the top surface of said bottom shell, said
insulating layer being printed on the top surface of said bottom
shell over said lead wires beyond said conducting portions and said
contact portions, and said layer of conducting film being printed
on said insulating layer over said contact portions to electrically
connect said contact portions.
28. The signal input device as claimed in claim 26, wherein said
bottom shell has a light emitting device bonded to the top surface
thereof and electrically connected to said printed conducting track
unit.
29. The signal input device as claimed in claim 28, wherein said
light emitting device is a light emitting diode.
30. The signal input device as claimed in claim 26, further
comprising a liquid guide provided on a bottom side of said top
cover and extending to one through hole of said top cover.
31. The signal input device as claimed in claim 26, wherein said
bottom shell has an IC chip wire installed on the top surface
thereof, said IC chip having contact pins electrically connected to
lead wires of said printed conducting track unit.
32. The signal input device as claimed in claim 26 further
comprising an electric connector electrically connected to lead
wires of said printed conducting track unit and inserted into one
through hole of said top cover.
33. The signal input device as claimed in claim 26, wherein said
top cover comprises two bottom engagement portions disposed at two
sides and said bottom shell comprises two top engagement portions
disposed at two sides and respectively forced into engagement with
the bottom engagement portions of said top cover.
34. The signal input device as claimed in claim 33 wherein said
bottom engagement portions of said top cover are retaining grooves,
and said top engagement portions of said bottom shell are retaining
ribs respectively engaging said retaining grooves.
35. The signal input device as claimed in claim 26, wherein said
bottom shell comprises a plurality of upright bonding portions
respectively bonded to said top cover.
36. The signal input device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the top
surface of said bottom shell is electrically insulating.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a signal input device and,
more specifically, to a signal input device in which the conducting
track unit is arranged on the shell by printing, eliminating the
arrangement of conducting track unit bearing means.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates a signal input device according to the
prior art, which comprises a top cover 10a, a set of key buttons
20a, a set of rubber domes 31a, conductive contacts 40a, a printed
circuit board 50a, a membrane circuit board 60a, and a bottom shell
70a. The top cover 10a has a plurality of through holes 11a. The
key buttons 20a are axially and movably mounted in the through
holes 11a. The conductive contacts 40a are respectively mounted in
the rubber domes 31a on the bottom side. The printed circuit board
50a comprises an IC chip 51a. The top cover 10a, the membrane
circuit board 60a and the bottom shell 70a are fastened together in
proper order. The printed circuit board 50a is mounted in between
the top cover 10a and the bottom shell 70a, and electrically
connected to the membrane circuit board 60a. The rubber domes 31a
are provided between the top cover 10a and the membrane circuit
board 60a. The key buttons 20a are respectively aimed at the rubber
domes 31a. The conductive contacts 40a are respectively disposed in
the rubber domes 31a and facing the lead wires 61a of the membrane
circuit board 60a. When pressing the key buttons 20a, the
corresponding rubber domes 31a are depressed to force the
respective conductive contacts 40a into contact with the
corresponding lead wires 61a of the membrane circuit 60a, thereby
causing the IC chip 51a to output a signal.
[0005] This structure of signal input device has numerous drawbacks
as follows:
[0006] 1. The signal input device comprises many components,
resulting in a complicated assembly process and high manufacturing
cost.
[0007] 2. The connection between the membrane circuit board and the
printed circuit board requires a special manufacturing process,
increasing the processing time of the signal input device.
[0008] 3. A locating means must be provided in the top cover and
bottom shell of the signal input device for the positioning of the
printed circuit board and the membrane circuit board, increasing
the material consumption and processing cost of the signal input
device.
[0009] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a signal input device
that eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention has been accomplished under the
circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present
invention to provide a signal input device, which can be
modularized to facilitate the fabrication and to reduce the
manufacturing cost. It is another object of the present invention
to provide a signal input device, which requires fewer components,
thus reducing the material cost thereof. It is still another object
of the present invention to provide a signal input device, which
saves processing time and cost. According to a first embodiment of
the present invention, the signal input device comprises a bottom
shell, a printed conducting track unit arranged on a top surface of
the bottom shell, the printed conducting track unit having a
plurality of contact portions, and a top cover covering the bottom
shell and carrying a press unit, the press unit being aimed at and
spaced above the contact portions of the printed conducting track
unit for pressing by the user to connect selectively the contact
portions of the printed conducting track unit. According to a
second embodiment of the present invention, the signal input device
comprises a bottom shell, the bottom shell having a top surface, a
plurality of conductive contacts mounted on the top surface of the
bottom shell, a top cover covering the bottom shell, the top cover
having a bottom surface and carrying a press unit, and a printed
conducting track unit located on the bottom surface of the top
cover, the printed conducting track unit comprising a plurality of
contact portions respectively aimed at the press unit and separated
from the press unit by a distance. According to a third embodiment
of the present invention, the signal input device comprises a
bottom shell, the bottom shell having a top surface, a printed
conducting track unit located on the top surface of the bottoms
hell, the printed conducting track unit comprising a plurality of
contact portions, a top cover covering the bottom shell, the top
cover carrying a press unit, a plurality of rubber domes provided
between the top cover and the bottom shell corresponding to the
contact portions of the printed conducting track unit, and a
plurality of conductive contacts respectively mounted in the rubber
domes on a bottom side and facing the contact portions of the
printed conducting track unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate
embodiments of the invention and, together with the description,
serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the
drawings,
[0012] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the prior art design;
[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is an enlarged, cross-sectional assembly view of a
part of FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 4 is an enlarged, exploded view of the printed
conducting track unit according to the first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of
the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of
the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a computer keyboard
constructed according to the present invention; and
[0019] FIG. 8 is an enlarged, cross-sectional assembly view of a
part of the computer keyboard shown in FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a signal input device is shown
comprising a bottom shell 10, a printed conducting track unit 20,
and a top cover 30. The printed conducting track unit 20 is formed
on the top surface of the bottom shell 10. The top cover 30
comprises a press unit 40. Pressing the press unit 40 connects a
part of the printed conducting track unit 20 to produce a
corresponding input signal.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 2 again, the bottom shell 10
can be an electrically insulating body molded from polymers.
Alternatively, the bottom shell 10 can be made having an
electrically insulating top surface. The conducting track unit 20
is a multilayer conducting track unit formed on the top surface of
the bottom shell 10 by screen-printing. The formation of the
printed conducting track unit 20 includes the steps of: (a)
screen-printing a layer of conducting glue, for example, silver
glue 21 on the top surface of the bottom shell 10, which layer of
silver glue 21 includes contact portions 22, lead wires 23 and
conducting portions 24; (b) screen-printing an insulating layer 25
on the top surface of the bottom shell 10 over the lead wires 23
beyond the contact portions 22 and the conducting portions 24; and
(c) pain-coating a layer of conducting film, for example, carbon
film 26 on the insulating layer 25 over the conducting portions 24
to electrically connect the conducting portions 24.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 again, the top cover 30 covers
the bottom shell 10 to carry the press unit 40, having a plurality
of through holes 31. The press unit 40 is axially and movably
mounted in the through holes 31. A set of rubber domes 51 is
provided between the press unit 40 and the printed conducting track
unit 20, having conductive contacts 60 respectively mounted in the
rubber domes 51 corresponding to and spaced above the contact
portions 22 of the printed conducting track unit 20. An IC chip 70
is installed on the top surface of the bottom shell 10, having
contact pins 71 electrically connected to the printed conducting
track unit 20 by SMD or wire binding. Therefore, pressing the press
unit 40 causes the rubber domes 51 to selectively force the
conductive contacts 60 into contact with the corresponding contact
portions 22 of the conducting track unit 20, thereby driving the IC
chip 70 to output a signal.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of
the present invention. According to this embodiment, the press unit
40 is formed in the top cover 30. The press unit 40 can be made
flush with the top surface of the top cover 30. Alternatively, the
press unit 40 can be made having a top side protruding from the top
surface of the top cover 30. Further, the press unit 40 has
recessed portions 41 in the bottom side of each button thereof. The
bottom shell 10 has a conducting track unit 20 printed on the top
surface and an IC chip 70 installed on the top surface and
electrically connected to the lead wires 23 of the printed
conducting track unit 20. The top cover 30 covers the bottom shell
10. The conductive contacts 60 are respectively located on the
bottom side of each button of the press unit 40. The conductive
contacts 60 can be a conducting film, for example, carbon film
respectively plated on the bottom side of each button of the press
unit 40 corresponding to the contact portions 22 of the printed
conducting track unit 20. Therefore, pressing the press unit 40
causes the conductive contacts 60 to contact the corresponding
contact portions 22 of the printed conducting track unit 20,
thereby driving the IC chip 70 to output a signal. This embodiment
further comprises a light emitting device, for example, LED (light
emitting diode) 80 installed on the top surface of the bottom shell
10 and electrically connected to the lead wires 23 of the printed
conducting track unit 20 by SMD. The top cover 30 has through holes
32. A light guide 90 is mounted on the bottom side of the top cover
30 and extended to the inside of one through hole 32 to guide the
light of the LED 80. An electric connector 85 is mounted in the
bottom shell 20 and electrically connected to the lead wires 23 of
the printed conducting track unit 20, having a receiving side
positioned in one through hole 32 of the top cover 30 for receiving
an external electronic device.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of
the present invention. According to this embodiment, the top cover
30 is an electrically insulating shell molded from, for example,
copolymers. The conducting track unit 20 is printed on the
electrically insulating bottom surface of the top cover 30. The
electrically insulating bottom surface of the top cover 30 is
preferably a planar surface. The press unit 40 is carried on the
top cover 30 corresponding to the contact portions 22 of the
conducting track unit 20. The IC chip 70 is bonded to the bottom
surface of the top cover 30, and electrically connected to the lead
wires 23 of the conducting track unit 20. The conductive contacts
60 are located on the top surface of the bottom shell 10. When the
top cover 30 covers the bottom shell 20, the conductive contacts 60
are respectively aimed at the contact portions 22 of the conducting
track unit 20. Further, the top cover 30 has recessed portions
corresponding to the buttons of the press unit 40. Therefore,
pressing the press unit 40 cause the press unit 40 to deform
slightly and to further force the conductive contacts 60 into
contact with the corresponding contact portions 22 of the
conducting track unit 20, thereby driving the IC chip 70 to output
a signal. When the external force is released from the press unit
40, the top cover 30 returns to its former shape. This embodiment
further comprises support means 100 provided between the top cover
30 and the bottom shell 10 to ensure the presence of a gap between
the conductive contacts 60 and the contact portions 22 of the
conducting track unit 20.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6 again, the top cover 30 has
through holes 32, and the light emitting device 80 is electrically
connected to the printed conducting track unit 20 in the top cover
30 and aimed at or inserted into one through hole 32. As indicated,
the light emitting device 80 can be a LED. The top cover 30 has two
bottom engagement portions 110 symmetrically disposed on the left
and right sides. The bottom shell 10 has two top engagement
portions 120 symmetrically disposed on the left and right sides and
adapted to engage the bottom engagement portions 110 of the top
cover 30. According to the present invention, the bottom engagement
portions 110 are retaining grooves, and the top engagement portions
120 are retaining ribs fitting the retaining grooves of the bottom
engagement portions 110. The bottoms hell 10 further comprises a
plurality of upright bonding portion 130 bonded to the top cover
30.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the signal input device can be a
computer keyboard comprising a bottom shell 10, a printed
conducting track unit 20, a top cover 30, rubber domes 51, and
conductive contacts 60. The printed conducting track unit 20 is
located on the top surface of the bottom shell 10, comprising a
plurality of contact portions 22. The top cover 30 covers the
bottom shell 10 to carry the press unit 40. The rubber domes 51 are
provided between the top cover 30 and the bottom shell 10
corresponding to the contact portions 22 of the printed conducting
track unit 20. The conductive contacts 60 are respectively
installed in the rubber domes 51 at the bottom side corresponding
to the contact portions 22 of the printed conducting track unit
20.
[0027] As indicated above, the signal input device has advantages
as follows:
[0028] 1. It can be modularized to ease the fabrication and reduce
the manufacturing cost.
[0029] 2. It requires fewer components, thus reducing material
cost.
[0030] 3. It eliminates many assembly and connection procedures,
thereby saving much labor and time.
[0031] A prototype of signal input device has been constructed with
the features of FIGS. 2-8. The signal input device functions
smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.
[0032] Although particular embodiments of the invention have been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention
is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
* * * * *